KXCI Community Radio 91.3 FM

Don’t get the hate. Live in San Diego and DC, this station has REALLY good and diverse music and is better than any other station I’ve heard in a longgggg time. Reminds me of WPFW in DC. A++!

Much like Eric G., this radio station was the first I’d EVER given my money to. Sadly, I don’t listen to them as much as I’d like throughout the week but that doesn’t matter when I’ve made it a weekly ritual to tune in for only two, that’s right, TWO programs that come on Friday night, which make up for the majority of why I love this radio station so much:
Electric Feel @ 8:00PM — 10:00PM hosted by Corbin Dooley and Toby Roberts
and then–
Under Surveillance @ 10:00PM-Midnight by David Wright and Falcotronik Zeke Prebluda, which originally was called Digital Empire with another guy who ran the program with them by the name of Trinidad («What a guy», as David would put it.)
The radio station itself is closely knit to the musical aspirations of the Tucson community in multiple aspects from independent, to what’s new, what’s upcoming, sometimes avant garde (at least from what I’ve heard) to a whole slew of things that seem to surprise me on the random moments I do happen to tune in just to hear what’s up when I’m not listening to them on Friday (but how I so do look forward to hearing them EVERY Friday.) They also keep close reins on upcoming concerts, performances, bands and musicians coming to town– often times surprised that certain acts which I didn’t think EVER came to Tucson, actually do! WIthout KXCI telling me, I’d probably never know…
The station overall does give alot of attention to the unheard and unknown sounds out there; and the people working the waves are passionate, in tuned and right down amazing at what they do. It’s one of those rare occasions where I can actually take back the bitterness I have about most mainstream radio and say «There is such a thing as a place that has something new, different and off the beaten path.»
The station doesn’t always get things right with some of the selections being less than palatable but those times when something extraordinary hits? It’s like a renaissance of enthusiasm, at least for me it is.
Again, I hate to be the bias bit about this but I have to reiterate that I tune in to KXCI on Fridays for the two main programs that I’ve come to love this station VERY dearly for, because they’re the only ones IN TOWN, local and something I can look forward to every week as per ritual into the weekends. It’s just the right way to do it…
I found this station by accident, coincidentally on a Friday night which introduced me to their amazing programs and I actually forgot what station it was and was lost of it for a while until I tried again and found them out… afterwards, I was hooked.
This isn’t just my favorite radio station.
It IS my only radio station.

Late last year, disaster struck. My Ipod died and the CD player in the old truck was acting funny. I was forced to rely on radio for a couple of weeks. Naturally, I set it to 91.3.
Let me preface this by saying I have diverse taste in music. There is no genre which I can’t enjoy, if it’s performed skillfully. That said, in those two weeks the vast majority of the tracks played were pure rubbish.
In the past, I remember enjoying some of Al Perry’s show, and the zydeco show would play some decent cuts. The late night blues show is the only reason I’m giving the station two stars instead of one. The DJ will often have themed shows, and attempt to educate the listeners about the history of the music.
The «Res Radio» show paints a portrait of Tucson’s native residents as nothing more than uneducated gang members. I could take all the medicine in my cabinet and still be offended by the musical content of the «Medicine Cabinet» show. Imagine a three year old banging on a saucepan and a Casio keyboard. This stuff’s so underground it should be buried.
We live in a world filled with great music. Maybe KXCI could try playing a little of it?

The first community radio station I’ve given money to. They are incredible. While cleaning the house, or running errands, their Saturday line up is a must-​listen in the background. The best show hands down (and airing on Saturdays) is Kid Squids Mystery Jukebox. It’s a themed show, covering anything from say NYC punk rock in the 70’s to spaghetti westerns. Just a great show. Sadly, the reception is poor in my neighborhood, but thankfully you can always stream the station live on the internet. Show schedules are too numerous to list, so just check their website (
)
Shows are more or less standard music and Democracy Now! on weekdays, with weekly shows in the evening. From what I have heard, the weekly show DJ’s absolutely know their stuff. One shining example is the host of «Global Rhythm Radio» (Thursday nights, 6−9pm), Matt Moon. The guy plays such eclectic music and knows about every performer he plays. Good stuff. Same for the DJ who hosts Dead Air on Saturday nights.
Another nice aspect of KXCI is that they arrange and host concerts occasionally around Tucson. These are typically pretty good acts. And members get discounted tickets.
Really – why listen to watered down Clear Channel radio with all their ads and cookbook playlists when there’s such a great and eclectic community radio station here in town. Truly a blessing to the Old Pueblo!

Utter shite, mostly
As a longtime listener of non-​commercial radio, I was pleased to find that there was some in this backwater town.
Too bad the overwhelming majority of music played there is downtempo, derivative downer covers and crappy third rate «Roots Americana» (really a euphemism for watered down country).
KXCI is just another reason that Tucson is such an unrelieved DOWNER.
Democracy Now! and Friday night electronica are forgiveable, but the rest of it is worth avoiding. Compared to everything else on Tucson radio it is leagues beyond, but that doesn’t necessarilly mean it’s good.
Tucson is a joyless place to live. and KXCI is part of the problem

KXCI is the radio station for anyone who has had it with all the Clear Channel Crap that is out there.
This is easily the best station in Tucson, playing everything from alt rock to blues to country to hip hop to folk to world… to…to…everything, really.
In fact, I would venture to say that it is even better than it’s sister station, KEXP in Seattle — mostly because KXCI doesn’t try so hard to play unheard of music (though they play a LOT of lesser known stuff) and instead focuses on playing GOOD music.
One of my favorite parts about KXCI, like KEXP, is that you can look up track listings for all of their shows on the website. I’ve definitely done this quite a bit and expanded my knowledge because of it…
If you haven’t, give KXCI a try. Heck, even if you don’t live in Tucson you can stream the broadcast from their website!